Review of The Proud Rebel (1958) by Davey M — 14 Feb 2014
The script takes its sweet time bringing the three central conflicts together (Ladd's love for his son and the quest to treat his condition, the boy's love for his dog, and Ladd's burgeoning romance with de Havilland), and the sense of dramatic propulsion really suffers as a result.
But without the forward momentum of an overly focused narrative, the film finds room for lots of lovely domesticity, which is appropriate for a film built around the care of people and the care of the land.
The bond between the central cast members is not just effective, it's real, and the familial warmth anchors the movie, and lends a weight and power to the admittedly sentimental finale. The physical beauty of the production, the fine score, the able direction of Curtiz, a terrific supporting cast (including some excellent villainy from Dean Jagger and a very young Harry Dean Stanton, credited here as "Dean Stanton"), and one of the finest dog performances on film make this a beautiful western.
This review of The Proud Rebel (1958) was written by Davey M on 14 Feb 2014.
The Proud Rebel has generally received positive reviews.
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